Dual spray head



April 19, 1966 R. E. BouRKE 3,246,850

DUAL SPRAY HEAD Filed May 20, 1964 INVENTOR Hoberz Edaf/fz, BY Mm mmm United States Patent 3,246,850 DUAL SPRAY HEAD Robert E. Bourke, Weston, Conn., assignor to Corn Products Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May Ztl, 1964, Ser. No. 368,791 12 Claims. (Cl. 239-394) This invention relates to spray apparatus for spraying liquid from pressurized containers.

The broad concept of the present invention resides in "an improved spray head for spraying liquid in any one ofrtwo or more combinations of spray patterns, and/or atomized liquid droplet sizes from a container for the product.

Another feature resides in the provision of a spray head having two different configuration channels and two different coniiguration mixer spray outlets (per manufacturers specifications) molded into one spray head unit.

Another feature resides in the provision of a spray head in which the type of spray pattern and/or the size of the atomized liquid droplets, and/or various combinations of each, is selected for spray use by lifting the spray head and turning the same a certain number of degrees t-o the left or to the right to predetermined stops, and pushing the spray head down to engage and actuate a tubular nozzle for discharge of the liquid from the pressurized container through the nozzle and through the selected channel of the spray head for spraying from the spray outlet associated with the selected channel.

Another feature resides in the provision of tapered openings at the lower ends of the feed lines or channels in the spray head for cooperation with the tubular nozzle whereby the liquid from the pressurized container is directed to the selected spray outlet.

Another feature resides in the provision of -a spray head -of the character set forth having snap in pivot means for pivoting the spray head to the container.

Another feature resides in the provision of a dual spray head which is removable from the container for cleaning, and more particularly a removable spray head held in position -by plastic flanges which are flexible and will allow the user t-o remove the dual spray head from the container for cleaning as a one piece unit by holding the same, for example, under a water tap.

Another feature resides in the provision for spraying liquid in any one of two or more spray patterns, and/ or atomized liquid droplet sizes from a spray head comprising an inner or bottom spray head portion and an outer or top spray head portion that can be opened via a self molded hinge, and/or pivot type hinge, and retention snap. The self molded type hinge affords the manufacturer a new method of producing spray heads which effects economiesv in tooling and piece costs by the utilization of simple two piece moulds. The feed lines and/or channels are dis-posed with portions of the feed linesl or channels in the outer or top spray head portion and with the other portions of the feed lines or channels in the inner or lower spray head portion. When the outer or top spray head portion is closed the feed lines or channels in the outer or top spray head portion and in the inner or bottom spray head portion form channels having a 360 round configuration, or oval, which directs the product to be sprayed from the spray valve head mounted on the container to a point in the spray head at which the product is swirled and emitted in the form of a spray.

A spray head of they character above set forth enables the user of the same to open the top spray head portion and to readily flush, Wash, or rinse out the unit and the portions of the feed lines or channels in the inner or lCC bottom and outer or top spray head portions to eliminate or prevent clogging -of the feed lines or lchannels which can be caused by soiidification, or drying of the product in the channels, feed lines, or mixer dispensing tip.y

Another feature resides in a spray head which when the top spray head portion is closed and the spray head is depressed will spray the contents of the container out through the spray head.

The bottom and top spray head portions may be manufactured of polypropylene plastic and/or other plastics or other materials which will adapt to the features set forth herein.

Further features, advantages and adaptations of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the invention is limited only within the scope of the appended claims and not to the particular embodiment selected for illustration.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary sectional view of one form of container with the dual spray head of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the dual spray head as applied to the container.

Referring to the drawing, FIGURE l shows a container 10 for the material to be sprayed. The material is under pressure within the container 10 as Well known in the art,

The container 10 may, for example, be in the form of a cylindrical body portion 11 having at its top a cover 12, whose peripheral edge is interfolded with the circumferential edge of the body portion 11, or otherwise tightly sealed to the body portion 11.

A closure portion 14 is provided with a raised portion 15 having a central opening 16 through which a tubular nozzle 18 extends. Nozzle 18 has a radial port 20 through its wall which opens into the interior of the tu-bular nozzle. Tube 21 extends down into the material within the container lil which material is to be sprayed. When the spray head is not pressed downwardly a spring 22 forces the nozzle 18 upwardly to the position shown in FIGURE l thereby closing the passage from the upper end of the tube 21 to the interior of the nozzle 18. When the spray head is pressed down the nozzle 18 is forced downwardly against the spring 22 until the radial port 20 opens to the upper end of the tube 21 and thereby material is discharged under pressure from the interior of the container upwardly through the nozzle 18. The outer periphery of the closure portion 14 is bent over and sealed, for example, to the annular head 24 on the cover portion 12.

An annular plastic member or shroud 26 surrounds the cover portion 12 and is secured at its lower edge to the cover portion 12 and container 10 at 28. The upper portion of the member 26 has an opening 29 in which the spray head is positioned so that it may be pressed downwardly against the action of the spring 22. When the spray head is no longer pressed downwardly, the spring 22 forces the spray head to move upwardly by the coaction of the nozzle 18 with the spray head.

The spray head comprises an inner or lower spray head portion 30 and a cooperating outer or upper spray head portion 32. The spray head portion 30 and 32 may be manufactured of polypropylene plastic and/or 4other plastics, or materials adapted` for the present in- Vention.

The outer or upper spray head portion 32 is hinged to the inner or lower spray head portion 30 by a self molded hinge 34 or a hinge of self flexing properties and/ or materials. The hinge 34 flexes by its own properties and enables the outer or upper spray head portion 32 to be swung about the hinge to close position as shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, and to open position as shown, for example, fragmentarily in dotted lines in FIGURE 1.

The lower spray head portion has two, or more, openings 38 and 39 each enlarged at its lower end at 40 to receive the tubular nozzle 18. The inner or lower and the outer or upper spray head portions 30 and 32 have cooperating surfaces at i2 and 43 and cooperating surfaces at 44 and 45. The cooperating surfaces 44 and 45 have rounded channels 47 and 48, which when the upper spray head is closed, as shown in full lines in FIGURE l, form channels of different configuration each of which channels may have a 360 rounded conguration, or oval. One of these channels leads from the opening 38 to the spray outlet 5t) in a spray insert 52, and the other channel leads from the opening 39 to a different spray outlet 54 in another spray insert 56.

The spray inserts 52 and 56 are carried by the upper, or outer spray head portion 32 by enlargements 58 and on the respective inserts. When the outer spray head 32 is closed the inner ends of the inserts 52 and 56 enter grooves in the inner spray head portion 30 as shown at 62 in FIGURE l.

The spray head is pivoted for turning movement to register either the opening 38, or the opening 39, with the tubular nozzle 18 for spraying the contents of the container either through the spray outlet opening 50 in one spray pattern, or through the other spray outlet opening 54 in a diierent spray pattern. The pivot for the spray head is in the form of a stern 64 integral with the bottom of the spray head portion 3i) and extending downwardly therefrom. The lower end of the stem 64 is enlarged at 65 and the exterior of the enlarged portion 65 is tapered downwardly as shown in FIG- URE l. The stem 64 and the enlarged lower end 65 have diametrically opposite compression slots 68 which lower end 65 of the pivot stem 64 so that it may be snapped through the smaller opening 70 and will expand beneath the top of the member 26.

With the spray head applied to the container as shown in the drawing, the type of spray pattern and/or size of atomized liquid droplets and/or various combinations t of each is selected for spray use by lifting the spray head clear of the nozzle 18 and turning the spray head a certain number of degrees to register either the opening 38 or the opening 39 with the nozzle 18. In the drawing the opening 38 is in register with the nozzle 18 for spraying the material from the opening 50 in one spray pattern. To spray the material in another spray pattern, the spray head is lifted clear of the nozzle 18 and turned about the axis of the stern 64 to register the opening 39 with the nozzle 18 for spraying the material from the opening S4 in a different spray pattern.

With the opening 38 in register with the nozzle 1S the spray head is depressed and by its cooperation with the nozzle 18 at 72 depresses the nozzle 18 until the radial port 20 opens to the upper end of the tube 21 and thereby material is discharged under pressure from the interior of the container upwardly through the nozzle 18 and through the channels 47 and 48 to the spray outlet 50 from which the material is sprayed.

When a different spray pattern or different liquid droplet size or diierent combination thereof is desired, the spray head is lifted and turned about the axis of the stem 64 to register the opening 39 with the nozzle 13. When the opening 39 is in register with the nozzle 18, depression of the spray head depresses the nozzle 18 until the radial port 20 opens to the upper end of the tube 21 and thereby material is discharged under the pres- 4 sure from the interior of the container upwardly through the nozzle 18, the opening 39, the channels in the spray head portions to the spray outlet 54 from which the different spray pattern is sprayed.

The inner or lower spray head portion 30 may have lugs or anges 74 and 75 for engagement with stops 76 and 77 on the member 26 for stopping the turning movement of the spray head in one direction when the opening 38 is in register with the nozzle 18, and for stopping turning movement of the spray head in the other direction when the opening 39 is in register with the nozzle 18. The lugs 74 and 75 may be positioned beneath a portion of the member 26 and may be flexible to permit removal of the spray head from the member 26.

When the upper spray head portion 32 is opened about its hinge 34, for example, to the dotted line position shown fragmentarily in FIGURE l, the channels in the upper and lower spray head portions are exposed and the user or the consumer of the product may readily flush, wash, or rinse out the unit. This eliminates or prevents clogging which can be caused by solidiiication or drying of the product in the channels, feed lines, or dispensing inserts.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawing and the specification is for illustrative purposes only and it is to be expressly understood that said drawing and the specification are not to be construed as a definition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

1. A spray head for spraying material under pressure from a container comprising a spray head having two spray loutlets for spraying in different patterns and/or different atomized liquid droplet sizes, said spray head having two different conguration channels one leading to one spray outlet and the other channel leading to the other spray outlet, a pivot on said spray head for pivoting said head to a container having a hollow nozzle slideable between an open position for discharge of material under pressure from the container and to a closed position closing discharge of material from the container, said pivot v being radially spaced lfrom the axis of the hollow nozzle,

pivoting of said spray head to the container permitting turning of the spray head to place either one of said channels in ,communication with said hollow nozzle so that depression of the spray head will depress said hollow nozzle to deliver the material under pressure from the container to the spray outlet of the selected channel.

2. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the channels in the spray head have lower tapered openings for co-operation with the hollow nozzle for directing the 1 material into the selected channel and to the spray outlet associated with the selected channel.

3. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein there are stops for stopping turning movement of the spray head in one direction when one channel is in position for communication with the hollow nozzle and for stopping turning movement of the spray head in the other direction when the other channel is in position for communication with the hollow nozzle.

4. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the pivot on the spray head is a snap in pivot for snapping into an opening in a part of the container.

5. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the spray head is held in position on the container by flanges which are flexible to allow the user to remove the spray head from the container for cleaning.

6. A spray head according to claim 5, wherein the flanges on the spray head and the spray head are formed of plastic material and/or other suitable materials.

7. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the pivot on the spray head has an enlargement at its lower end and a compression slot enabling said enlargement to be snapped through an opening in a part of the container.4

8. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the spray head comprises yan inner spray head portion, a cooperating outer spray head portion, and a self molded hinge about which hinge said outer spray head portion may be opened and closed with respect to said inner spray head portion, said inner and outer spray head portions having cooperating channels disposed in the inner spray head portion and in the outer spray head portion, said outer spray head portion when closed forming, by the cooperating channels in the inner and outer spray head portions, channels through which the material to be sprayed is directed from the spray head.

9. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the spray head comprises an inner spray head portion, and

outer spray head portion, the inner spray head portion having openings for receiving a nozzle which when depressed permits the contents of the container t0 pass out throughthe nozzle and opening and one or the other of the chan els in the spray head for spraying therefrom.

10. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the spray head comprises an inner spray head portion, 1a cooperating outer spray head portion hinged to the inner spray head portion by a self molded hinge, or two piece snap in pivot type hinge or separate pin type hinge, said outer spray head portion when swung to open position about said hinge exposing channels in the upper and lower spray head portions so that the unit may lbe readily lushed, washed, or rinsed out.

11. For use with a container having a shroud at the upper end thereof and having a hollow nozzle slidable between an open position permitting discharge of material under pressure from the container and a closed position preventing discharge of material -from the container, a spray head having two spray outlets for spraying in different patterns and/or different atomized liquid droplet sizes or combinations of each, said spray head having two different configuration channels, one end of one channel communicating with one spray outlet and one end of the other channel communicating with the other spray outlet, the other ends of said channels opening at the bottom of said spray head for selectively receiving the upper end of the hollow nozzle, a pivot member on said spray head pivotally connecting the latter to the shroud, said pivot member being radially spaced from the axis of the hollow nozzle, and said pivot member accommodating pivoting of said spray head whereby either one of the channel openings may be placed in register and engagement with the hollow nozzle so that depression of said spray head will depress the hollow nozzle to deliver the material under pressure from the container to the spray outlet of the selected channel.

12. A spray head according to claim 11, wherein the spray head is held in position by ilexible flanges which are normally disposed beneath a portion of the shroud, wherein the shroud is provided with stops which are engageable -by said flanges for limiting pivotal movement of said spray head in one direction when one of the channel openings is in register with the hollow nozzle and for limiting pivotal movement of said spray head in the otherv direction when the other of the channel openings is in register with the hollow nozzle, and wherein said pivot member on said spray head is snapped into an opening in the shroud.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 245,096 8/ 1881 Smith 239-455 1,030,366 6/1912 Winters 239-455 1,335,267 3/1920 Ambrose etal 239-561 2,887,273 5/ 1959 Anderson et al 239-337 2,997,243 8/ 1961 Kolb 239-394 3,081,918 3/1963 Scoggin et al. 239-337 3,173,613 3/1965 Smith 239-284 3,178,120 4/1965 Kappel 239-337 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,257,582 2/1961 France.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A SPRAY HEAD FOR SPRAYING MATERIAL UNDER PRESSURE FROM A CONTAINER COMPRISING A SPRAY HEAD HAVING TWO SPRAY OUTLETS FOR SPRAYING IN DIFFERENT PATTERNS AND/OR DIFFERENT ATOMIZED LIQUID DROPLET SIZES, SAID SPRAY HEAD HAVING TWO DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION CHANNELS ONE LEADING TO ONE SPRAY OUTLET AND THE OTHER CHANNEL LEADING TO THE OTHER SPRAY OUTLET, A PIVOT ON SAID SPRAY HEAD FOR PIVOTING SAID HEAD TO A CONTAINER HAVING A HOLLOW NOZZLE SLIDEABLE BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION FOR DISCHARGE OF MATERIAL UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE CONTAINER AND TO A CLOSED POSITION CLOSING DISCHARGE OF MATERIAL FROM THE CONTAINER, SAID PIVOT BEING RADIALLY SPACED FROM THE AXIS OF THE HOLLOW NOZZLE, PIVOTING OF SAID SPRAY HEAD TO THE CONTAINER PERMITTING TURNING OF THE SPRAY HEAD TO PLACE EITHER ONE OF SAID CHANNELS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID HOLLOW NOZZLE SO THAT DEPRESSION OF THE SPRAY HEAD WILL DEPRESS SAID HOLLOW NOZZLE TO DELIVER THE MATERIAL UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE CONTAINER TO THE SPRAY OUTLET OF THE SELECTED CHANNEL. 